Indian Embroidered Clothing

Throughout India, embroidery and needlework are highly developed local folk arts. In the region of Kashmir, however, needlework is the domain of highly skilled royal craftspeople. Worked in flat chain stitch, embroidery flows like brushstrokes across this distinctive cotton canvas jacket. The cut is an updated and relaxed version of the popular Nehru style. Fully lined. Made in India.

Gurgaon is one of India’s fastest growing cities, but family-run craft studios still flourish amid the international businesses that are fueling the economic boom. Our colorful, lightweight jacket is made in one of these studios. Tie-dyed by hand, each jacket is unique, with hand-embroidered paisley patterns on the front and one large paisley motif on the back. Paisley patterns, based on a stylized mango leaf, have been popular ever since merchant sea captains began bringing Indian textiles back to Europe and the U.S. in the 1700s. Two front patch pockets, fully lined.

The Punjab region in northern India is brimming with highly creative artisans who make everything from ornate jewelry to detailed needlework bedding and fabric. This classic tunic represents those decorative arts with subtle tone-on-tone embroidery trimming the neck and cuffs and accented by a scattering of beads across the body and tiny bell buttons at the neckline. This embroidered tunic evolved from a typical Punjabi garment called a kameez, a loose cotton shirt with an airy quality to keep you cool. Made in India.

Lace-making is a relatively recent addition to the vast textile history of the Indian subcontinent. In the 1800s, especially in the eastern coastal Godavari regions, lace-making was introduced as way for poor women to earn an income while still being able to stay home and care for their families. The lace insets that grace the shoulders of this cotton shirt are exactly the type of embellishment that women were creating for export more than 200 years ago. The front is also hand- embroidered with floral patterns in white and ivory. Features tabbed 3/4-length sleeves and a relaxed Mandarin-style collar.

Expand your travel wardrobe with this versatile, packable, open-front cardigan. Embroidered flowers decorate the front and cuffs, and the viscose blend resists wrinkles and retains its shape no matter how long your journey.